Not quite triathlon but almost as much preparation. This horse show goes for many more days of competitions 8 days in fact. The 2012 GrandNational is almost like Hawaii in that you do have to qualify during the year in order to compete. You can not just show up race morning or the morning, afternoon or evening of the event. And as a matter of fact I also get just as nervous before my class just like when I am racing. Just in case you were wondering of course it is much easier to pee in your wetsuit than in your breeches.

Winning the World Championship in Kona it is almost as prestigious  as winning a world title at the Morgan Nationals and World Champs.  Although it may seem that I am stretching the comparisons  a little.  Although my horsey friends think Triathlon is for crazy people my non horse friends like the fact I still wear pink when I ride my horse. Triathlon and horse riding may seem very different on the surface but there is still a lot of passion and hard work involved in the preparation for showing horses.

I clean my tack just like I clean my bike for all competitions. I get to design my attire just like I like to design my race kits did I mention yet they usually have a splash of pink. I have to polish my boots so they look spick and span just like a new pair of my Newton runners I have to wear for every big race. My horse gets braided and I braid my hair. My horse  is treated like an athlete and gets pampered with massages, Chiro work and Compexed just like me.

At a horse showing I wear make up and my Tri friends usually don’t recognize me. I usually wear a lot more clothes when I am riding  than in a triathlon. Yes, you do sweat when you ride a horse just in case you were ever wondering. I think I need to wear a heart rate monitor at the next show so I can download the data.

For the record placing 7th in my class at the Grand Nationals seems  a lot harder than winning Hawaii.....Probably because I have already done that and I have to rely on my horse to be co-operative.

Thanks to my equestrian partner CBMF Split Decision aka Johnny Boy for always make me look good and always keeping me on my toes....I sometimes don’t like the fact you have a little much character and you like to show it.

Oh yeah and I am still trying to figure out how to be on JB’s plan and not my own because apparently I am a hard worker but JB is not.:)